Low costs lure U.S. college students abroad

Patrick Finger, a high school senior from Southern California, did just that. He applied to a dozen or so colleges this year, including several state schools. In the end, he chose a less conventional path, opting to perfect his German language skills over the next year and then enroll at the University of Cologne. Tuition at German universities proved irresistible - it's free.

"State campuses here can cost as much as $35,000 per year and private colleges more," Finger says. Even with the extra year of study plus living and travel expenses, the 18-year-old recognizes a bargain when he sees one.